Soothing sounds | | Gina Williamson serenades her dog and cat on the balcony of her apartment complex on White Oak in the Heights. "There's nothing else to do but sit here," she said. Williamson, who works at a nearby animal hospital, planned to report to duty to care for the boarded animals of evacuees. | Sept. 13 | Houston less

Soothing sounds | | Gina Williamson serenades her dog and cat on the balcony of her apartment complex on White Oak in the Heights. "There's nothing else to do but sit here," she said. Williamson, who works at a ... more

Going home | | Aletia Skies pushes her mother, Emma Yarborough, and her dog, Pablo, in a wheelchair as her husÂband, Robert Sikes, carries their belongings. The family said the bad conditions at the shelter prompted them to leave. | Sept. 13 | Galveston less

Going home | | Aletia Skies pushes her mother, Emma Yarborough, and her dog, Pablo, in a wheelchair as her husÂband, Robert Sikes, carries their belongings. The family said the bad conditions at the shelter ... more

Improvisation | A pickup is turned into a makeshift ambulance as 76-year-old Peggy Eisworth is placed in the bed of the truck to be carried to a hospital. Eisworth tripped in the dark and broke her hip. | Sept. 13 | Pearland less

Improvisation | A pickup is turned into a makeshift ambulance as 76-year-old Peggy Eisworth is placed in the bed of the truck to be carried to a hospital. Eisworth tripped in the dark and broke her hip. | Sept. ... more

Living up to its name | Water washes out roads heading into High Island. | Sept. 14 | High Island

Living up to its name | Water washes out roads heading into High Island. | Sept. 14 | High Island

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

Living up to its name | Water washes out roads heading into High... Photo-1407153.23418 - Houston Chronicle

Image 37 of 103

Drive through | A pickup truck loaded with passengers in its bed braves the high waters. | Sept. 14 | High Island

Drive through | A pickup truck loaded with passengers in its bed braves the high waters. | Sept. 14 | High Island

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

Drive through | A pickup truck loaded with passengers in its bed... Photo-1407154.23418 - Houston Chronicle

Image 38 of 103

Hitching a ride | Barry Warnke lugs his luggage - and his dog Kilo - to a waiting area where people with pets were being grouped together for a bus ride to a San Antonio shelter. | Sept. 14 | Galveston

Hitching a ride | Barry Warnke lugs his luggage - and his dog Kilo - to a waiting area where people with pets were being grouped together for a bus ride to a San Antonio shelter. | Sept. 14 | Galveston

A way out | Ellie Cox carries her 6-month-old daughter, Jazya, as an unidentified California National Guardsman helps them to a helicopter so they can be evacuated to Texas City. | Sept. 13 | Galveston

A way out | Ellie Cox carries her 6-month-old daughter, Jazya, as an unidentified California National Guardsman helps them to a helicopter so they can be evacuated to Texas City. | Sept. 13 | Galveston

Stranded | Bill Smith, who said he had neither the money nor a car to be able to leave, ducked under the radar of security and emergency personnel and rode out the hurricane in a friendÕs home. | Sept. 14 | Surfside Beach less

Stranded | Bill Smith, who said he had neither the money nor a car to be able to leave, ducked under the radar of security and emergency personnel and rode out the hurricane in a friendÕs home. | Sept. 14 | ... more

Up close | Kara Bridwell, 26, left, and her brother, Paul Bisso, 17, climb atop the roof of their neighbor's house, which washed into the front of their family's beach house. | Sept. 14 | Surfside Beach

Up close | Kara Bridwell, 26, left, and her brother, Paul Bisso, 17, climb atop the roof of their neighbor's house, which washed into the front of their family's beach house. | Sept. 14 | Surfside Beach